The last time a film as promisingly ludicrous as “Kingsman: The Secret Service” came out, it was also by the hand of director Matthew Vaughn. “Kick-Ass” was a gleefully unprofessional way to handle cinematic adaptations of comic books, and it was all the better for it. Read more...

Photo: (20th Century Fox)

Kathy Wazana left her home country of Morocco at the age of 10. Growing up in Canada, Wazana said she was taught that Morocco was a hostile place for Jewish people. Read more...

Photo: In Kathy Wazana’s documentary “They Were Promised the Sea,” Wazana explores the meaning of Muslim and Jewish identities, spurring from her own background as a Jewish person born in Morocco. On Wednesday, the UCLA Center for Jewish Studies will be screening the film followed by a discussion with Wazana. (Courtesy of Kathy Wazana)

One has to wonder where exactly the cult-like admiration for “SpongeBob SquarePants,” arguably the most popular production Nickelodeon has ever had, comes from. Is it the endless barrage of pop culture references? Read more...

Photo: “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” follows the famous Nickelodeon characters as they try to track down the Krabby Patty secret recipe, which has disappeared. The film combines both cartoon and live-action sequences. (Paramount Pictures)